hydralazine (Apresoline)

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

GENERIC NAME: hydralazine

BRAND NAME: Apresoline

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Hydralazine (Apresoline) is an antihypertensive
medication used to treat high blood pressure. It is a peripheral arterial
vasodilator and causes relaxation of blood vessels which carry blood away from
the heart and towards the organs and tissues. The exact mechanism of how hydralazine causes arterial smooth muscle relaxation is not yet understood.
Hydrazine affects calcium movement within blood vessels. Calcium is required for
muscle contraction and therefore disturbances in calcium movement may cause
smooth muscle relaxation in the blood vessels. Hydralazine is selective for
arterioles (small arteries), and the overall effects of treatment include a
decrease in arterial blood pressure, and peripheral vascular resistance.

In addition to treating high blood pressure, hydralazine has shown to be
beneficial for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). Although
ACE
inhibitors are preferred for the treatment of CHF, hydralazine in combination
with
isosorbide dinitrate
(Isordil, Isordil Titradose, Dilatrate-SR) is an alternative for patients who cannot tolerate ACE
inhibitors.

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hydralazine (Apresoline)

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